On Blackout Tuesday, the music industry, as well as other businesses abstained from releasing music or conducting business by showing unity and reflecting on racism and the effects on society. Several bands in the punk and alternative rock community, have stepped up to show support for the Black Lives Matters movement.
It’s not surprising that bands are standing up for Black Lives Matter, punk ideologies are based on strong political beliefs about anti-authoritarianism, anti-racism, and anti-establishment. In fact, Rock Against Racism (RAR) was created as direct response to racism in the music industry in the 1970s. The Clash sang ‘White Riot’ at the Rock Against Racism Festival in 1978, to show admiration for black rioters willing to fight the cops and resist tyranny, however their politically charged lyrics are often misinterpreted.
Today bands are showing their support on social media, donating to organizations that support BLM, and standing in solidarity to end systemic racism. Many musicians are even taking part in peaceful protests.
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Machine Gun Kelly and Travis Barker from Blink182 protested in LA and teamed up to cover the Rage Against the Machine song ‘Killing in the Name’ to evoke the struggle against the establishment. ‘Killing in the Name’ is a powerful protest anthem that highlights racism and police brutality in a real and relevant way.
Emo Nite LA, used their platform to host a Racism in the Punk/Alternative Scene: A Conversation Led by Black Voices. Jason Aalon Butler from the band Fever 333, uses music to “give voice and notice and representation to a much larger contingent than we’ve actually been given credit for rock music, punk music, alternative music, and that’s black culture. It’s bi, trans, gay, queer, it’s brown, Asian. […] We tried to open up our space for people to speak their mind and truth […].”
Mainstream pop-rockers Fall Out Boy, donated $100,000 to National Bail Out and Black Visions Collective through the Fall Out Boy Fund. The band also took a stand against racial injustice in 2017, during their Mania Tour when they showed footage of football player Colin Kaepernick kneeling peacefully during the National Anthem when they performed ‘Centuries.’
Arizona rock band, The Maine raised over $15,000 to support the black community through The Maine, 8123 and The 8123 Community by selling merchandise and raffles. Emo rockers, Taking Back Sunday decided to donate to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and are encouraging fans to do the same. Silverstein is donating 100% of the profits from their live audio recordings from at-home concert, “Quaranstein to the NAACP and BLAC. The Used is donating 100% of the proceeds from their United, Solidarity, Equality, Diversity tee to BLM and Know Your Rights Camp.
Show support for Black Lives Matter and bands that use their platform to promote social justice causes. Let’s all unite and rock to end racism!
